Admission

FREE. Donations welcome.

eSavings Coupon

Print the eSaving Coupon to receive a discount on your Museum Shop purchase. Limit one eSavings coupon per visit, please.

Group Services

School groups, senior citizens groups and others may request guided tours of the fort and Museum by advance reservation. School tours usually last 1 ½ hours and cost $2.00 per student. Up to 60 students at one time can be accommodated. The fee for adult tours is also $2.00 per person. Call 703.746.4848 for information on student and group tours.

A new tour option has been added, called “Meet and Greet.” A 10-minute introduction/orientation by Museum staff is followed by a self-guided walking tour. Available Tuesday through Sunday for groups of a minimum of 12 persons. Suitable for adults and/or children. Works well for home school groups with a variety of student ages, scouts, family groups, clubs. Must be booked in advance. No charge.

Accessibility

Museum exhibit areas are wheel-chair accessible. Handicapped parking is available in the Museum lot. For visitors who are unable to tour the historic fort, an interpretive video, "Fort Ward and the Defenses of Washington, DC: Silent Guardians of the Capital City" is shown inside the Museum. The Fort Ward video is closed-captioned for the hearing impaired. Large print, Braille, French, German and Spanish brochures are also available. The City of Alexandria complies with the terms of ADA. An individual with a disability who wishes to request a reasonable accommodation may contact the Museum at 703.746.4848.

Park and Picnic Area

The Museum and Historic Fort are located within a 45-acre park, operated by the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. Picnic areas are available and may be reserved for groups by calling the Recreation department at 703.746.5405. Self-guided tours of the Fort and Museum may be taken any time the Museum and Historic Site are open. Guided tours of the Fort and the Museum are available with advance reservations for a small fee.

Museum Shop

Visit the Museum Shop for books, prints, maps, and souvenirs for adults and children. Additional Historic Alexandria Merchandise is available from The Alexandria Shop.

Helpful Hints for Visitors

Immerse yourself in the experience
During living history programs, Fort Ward Museum offers visitors the opportunity to meet and converse with reenactors portraying soldiers and civilians in the Civil War era. Most reenactors welcome questions about their activities, equipment and clothing, but strive to stay within the character they portray. Living history presentations give visitors insight into Civil War drills and camp life, as told from a first or third person point of view.

Dress for the weather
Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and bug repellant are recommended for outside activities. On especially warm days, water bottles are a good idea - there are no vending machines or snack bars on the premises.

Supervising children
Living history events offer kids a means of seeing camp life activities, but campfires and various pieces of military equipment can present a problem if children get too close. Please be aware of safety considerations and know where your child is at all times. Also, please be mindful that loud noises from artillery and guns might frighten young children.

Pets
With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed in the Museum. Pets may be brought to the surrounding Fort Ward Park, and there is a designated dog exercise area within the park. Owners might consider leaving their pets at home on reenactment days when the loud noise from artillery fire and muskets, plus the bustle of activity, can be unsettling.

Cameras and video equipment
Taking pictures is a fun way to preserve your memories of a visit to Fort Ward. Cameras are welcome outside in the historic area, and may be used in the Museum with staff permission. For safety considerations during reenactments, photographers are asked to respect the boundaries of roped off areas.

Directions and Parking

Fort Ward Museum is located on West Braddock Road between King Street (Route 7) and North Van Dorn Street in Alexandria, Virginia, approximately six miles south of Washington, D.C. The Museum and Historic Site are surrounded by a park.

Free parking is available for cars and buses.

From Old Town Alexandria
Follow King Street west to T.C. Williams High School, turn right on Kenwood Avenue. Turn left on West Braddock Road, and proceed about a mile. The Museum entrance is on the right.

From I-395 (north or south)
Take Seminary Road East exit and at the fifth traffic light (at Alexandria Hospital) turn left onto North Howard Street. Follow North Howard to its intersection with West Braddock Road and turn right. The Museum entrance is on the left.

From Washington, D.C. and National Airport
Follow road signs to I-395 South. Use I-395 directions to Museum. OR - Take the Metro from National Airport Metro station, and follow directions on how to reach Fort Ward by Metro.

From Dulles Airport
Take Dulles Access Road East to I-495 North (Capital Beltway). Follow road signs to I-395 North. Use I-395 directions to Museum.By Metro Rail, then Bus
Take the Yellow or Blue Line to King Street Station. The AT5 DASH Buswww.dashbus.com to Landmark stops in front of Fort Ward. Call (703) 370-DASH for bus schedules and information.

By Amtrak or Virginia Railway Express
Walk across the street from the Alexandria Union Station to the King Street Station to catch DASH bus. See above.